Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 18
Chapter 376 — ब्रह्मज्ञानम्
Knowledge of Brahman
सर्वात्मना हीन्द्रियाणां संहारः कारणात्मनां बुद्धेः स्थानं सुषुप्तं स्यात्तद्द्वयस्याभिमानवान्
sarvātmanā hīndriyāṇāṃ saṃhāraḥ kāraṇātmanāṃ buddheḥ sthānaṃ suṣuptaṃ syāttaddvayasyābhimānavān
ਕਾਰਣ-ਸੁਭਾਵ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਇੰਦ੍ਰੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਪੂਰਨ ਸੰਹਾਰ (ਲਯ) ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਬੁੱਧੀ ਦਾ ਸਥਾਨ ਸੁਸ਼ੁਪਤੀ ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ; ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਦੋਹਾਂ (ਬੁੱਧੀ ਤੇ ਕਾਰਣ ਅਵਸਥਾ) ਨਾਲ ਅਭਿਮਾਨ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਜੀਵ ‘ਅਭਿਮਾਨਵਾਨ’ ਕਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narrator)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Map deep sleep as sensory withdrawal and causal condition of mind to cultivate detachment and understand ego as identification with inner instruments; supports yoga nidra and meditation on the witness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Suṣupti: Indriya-saṃhāra, Buddhi-sthāna, and Abhimāna","lookup_keywords":["suṣupti","indriya-saṃhāra","buddhi","kāraṇa","abhimāna"],"quick_summary":"In deep sleep the senses withdraw into their causal condition; buddhi’s locus is termed suṣupti, and ego-notion persists as identification with that causal pair."}
Concept: Suṣupti is characterized by indriya-saṃhāra into causal state; buddhi is resolved, yet abhimāna (I-notion) remains as identification with the causal condition.
Application: Observe the transition into sleep and on waking note the continuity of 'I' despite absence of objects; use this to infer the witness distinct from senses and intellect.
Khanda Section: Sankhya–Yoga / Vedanta-oriented Psychology (States of Consciousness and Inner Instruments)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sleeper with senses depicted as rays retracting back into a central seed-like core; buddhi shown as a lotus closing; a small knot labeled abhimāna remains tied at the center.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, reclining figure, five sense-rays withdrawing into a central bindu, lotus of buddhi closing petals, a tiny knot/loop at the heart marked 'abhimāna', dark indigo night background with sacred austerity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-outlined rays folding inward toward a central seed, closed lotus motif over the chest, minimal scene with rich blue-black ground, embossed gold for the central bindu and knot of ego","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional diagram style: arrows showing indriyas returning to kāraṇa, buddhi-lotus closing, label 'suṣupti'; calm palette and precise linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate night interior: sleeper on a bed, translucent lines representing senses retracting, a closed lotus emblem near the head/heart, subtle calligraphy annotations"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्वात्मना = सर्व + आत्मना (अव्ययीभाव); हीन्द्रियाणां = हि + इन्द्रियाणाम्; स्यात्तद्द्वयस्याभिमानवान् = स्यात् + तत् + द्वयस्य + अभिमानवान्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 376 (suṣupti and antaḥkaraṇa analysis)
FAQs
It teaches the psychological/meditative principle of indriya-saṃhāra (withdrawal of the senses) and identifies suṣupti (deep sleep) as a ‘seat’ where the intellect rests in a causal, undifferentiated mode—useful for Yoga-style analysis of mind-states.
Beyond rituals and dharma, the Agni Purana also preserves technical frameworks of Indian philosophy (Sāṅkhya–Yoga/Vedānta), here cataloging inner instruments (buddhi, indriyas), causal states, and consciousness modes (suṣupti), demonstrating its multi-disciplinary scope.
By recognizing that deep sleep involves dissolution of sensory activity and that ego arises from identification (abhimāna) with subtle faculties, the practitioner gains detachment from the ‘I’-sense—supporting discrimination (viveka) and inward purification conducive to liberation-oriented practice.